Game appliance.



No. 851,864. PATENTED APR. 30, 190,7. W. H. G. D. CHARITY & T. GRITGHLEY. GAME APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1908.

FIG.4. a

JPEM

UNTTE STATES PATENT @FFTGE.

WILLIAM HENERY CHAS. DANIEL CHARITY, AND THOMAS CRITCI-ILEY, OF HINDLEY, ENGLAND.

GAME APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed June 9,1906. Serial No. 320,969.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM HENERY CHARLES DANIEL CHARITY and TnonAs CRITCHLEY, subjects of the King of Great Britain, both residing in I-Iindley, in the county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of Eng land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a parlor game which however can be used under some circumstances as an outdoor game.

The invention will be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation; and Fig. 2, a plan view; while Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the device adapted for use as a table; and Fig. 4. is a detail view.

The invention consists essentially in a substantially circular board a having a series of pockets 6 all round. In place of pockets however we may sink small pockets in the board itself as in a bagatelle board. In the center of the board is a pivot c on which is fixed a cone (Z. hen the game is packed up the cone (Z may be secured under the table the reverse way, as shown in Fig. 3. All round the outside is a curb c with the pockets 1), say eight pockets, and from this curb 0 legs f carry a central ring 9 placed horizontally above and concentric with the cone (Z, and say a foot to a foot and a half above the board, the cone being say four or five inches high, the ring acting as a rest for the hand of the player. The board a is carried on legs 70, which latter are connected to the board by adjustable screw devices working in plates k on the under side of the board, and by these adjustable devices it will be noted that no matter in what positionthe table is placed, it may be accurately adjusted with a spirit level, so as to be absolutely level. A few white, blue or other colored balls, and one red ball or differently colored ball completes the apparatus, except that in first class boards the curb is supplied with an india rubber cushioning device Z as in billiard tables. The bed is preferably made of slate.

The mode of action is as follows:The board a being leveled by the devices y' is, the ring 9 is fixed in place by means of four rods f bent for the purpose, fitting into sockets m in the curb, and in others in the ring. The

i l l l l l I cone being placed in position the red ball as shown at n is placed on the slightly flattened top of the cone (1. The first player then takes a ball and drops it against the red ball so as to send it flying oil the cone. If it run into a pocket, it IS replaced on the cone, and the player counts one. If it does not go into a pocket, the player drops the remainder of his balls against the cone in succession, so as to bounce olI against the red ball. If he fail to touch the cone, even if he gets a red ball into a pocket, it does not count, or counts to the opponent, as the case may be. Every time he gets the red ball into a pocket, he takes back the ball that performed the feat and goes on until all his balls are exhausted. The next player then takes the four balls and goes on with the red ball in the position in which it was left. A game is won by a player having sent the red ball into a pocket say ten times. hen the play is finished, the cone is reversed, as shown in Fig. 3, the ring and arms removed, the legs of the ring placed on the table, the balls placed in the pockets, and a circular or square wooden cover 0 is placed over the table with pegs p fitting inside the curb, or in the holes m in the curb, when the apparatus at once becomes an ordinary table, the adjustable devices if desired being movable to such a height for the table to be useful. Other methods of play are of course possible without any alteration of the table, for instance the scoring may be the same as in billiards only the ball in play is caused to impinge against the cone instead of being struck by a one, it will be possible to pot or go in off the red or even to cannon. In order to prevent the ring legs from wearing out the tablerapidly, the table and the ring are. preferably armed with brass plates where the legs are litted. Brass plates g in a similar manner are placed over the pockets as in billiard l' ables.

We declare that what we claim is 1. A game appliance consisting of a flat board or table, a raised cushion or rim forming the periphery thereof, peripheral pockets in this rim, a plain unimpeded sloping surface rising from the game board and facing each of these pockets on a curve, a rest or support considerably above the sloping surface and a series of balls whereby great skill can be shown in dropping the balls on the sloping surface, so that they shall strike a pocket.

2. A game appliance worked with balls consisting of a plain circular fiat table with a series of peripheral pockets, and cushions alternating with each other round the circumference, and a smooth unimpeded cone in the center of the table, a wide annular rest above the cone and a series of balls.

3 In a game appliance in combination with a cone and table supplied with peripheral pockets and cushions round that cone, a ring supported from the cushions from the outside at a point high above the cone, and balls, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the table a, having peripheral pockets and cushions, a central smooth curved unbroken surfaced dome, and an annular rest supported on legs from the cushions of about the diameter of the dome, and balls, whereby balls can be dropped on to the curved surface of the dome and according as they are skilfully dropped will they hit the pocket or another ball aimed at, or only a cushion.

5. In combination with a table a, having peripheral pockets 6 and cushions Z, a removable cone, and a restnorrnally placed above the cone and formed of a number of detachable members, whereby it may be removed and packed inside the table, and an ordinary table top whereby the apparatus may be quickly rigged up as a game board and when not required becomes an ordinary table.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM HENERY CHAS. DANIEL CHARITY. THOMAS CRIICHLEY.

WVitnesses:

G. C. DYMoND, JOHN MoLAoHLAN. 

